Dee Dee

Dee Dee, a Labrador retriever mix, was an owner surrender to the Baltimore Maryland Humane Society (BMHS) with swollen, oozing eyes so inflamed, she could barely see. Her previous owners felt they could no longer care for the four year old or provide for her medical issues. Neglected and abandoned, Dee Dee’s eye condition had gotten progressively worse.

After a specialist was consulted, it was determined Dee Dee had severe entropion, an abnormality of the eye lids 'rolling' inward. This inward rolling will often cause the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, corneal erosions and blindness. Without surgery, Dee Dee would go blind. BMHS reached out to the Ian Somerhalder Foundation and was provided a Medical Emergency Grant to help Dee Dee with the cost of surgery.

BMHS knew a shelter environment would increase the chances of infection for Dee Dee as she recovered from surgery. Thankfully, they were able to find her a loving foster home who could help with the healing process. Although Dee Dee is only 4 years old, her life of neglect has aged her looks well beyond her years and left her with an all grey muzzle. Her spirit, however, is a spritely 4 years old. She is a large dog physically, but her fosters soon found out she has the mind of a lap dog. She will push herself up onto anyone’s lap to snuggle whether they are ready or not!

The couple who fostered Dee Dee were on the lookout for a companion for their current rescue dog. When Dee Dee first met her foster brother Kooper, it was a perfect fit. Originally the family just wanted to foster Dee Dee, but as time went on, they saw how much the dogs loved each other. They felt they could not part ways with Dee Dee and decided to adopt her. Dee Dee will always remain on eye medication for dry eyes, but she is happy, healthy and home.